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Is 17" MBP too big for coach-class airplane use?

Mr.Gadget

Mr.Gadget

macrumors 6502
Original poster
Sep 19, 2006
314
0
Post Falls, ID
Is the 17" MBP too big to be used in the average coach class airplane seat?
(I'm whittling down my pros/cons in 15.4 vs 17 MBP)
 
Mr.Gadget said:
Is the 17" MBP too big to be used in the average coach class airplane seat?
(I'm whittling down my pros/cons in 15.4 vs 17 MBP)
Click to expand...
it's not as convenient as my 15.4 ibm, but its certainly not too big.. and im saying that from an owner's perspective
 
Mr.Gadget said:
Is the 17" MBP too big to be used in the average coach class airplane seat?
(I'm whittling down my pros/cons in 15.4 vs 17 MBP)
Click to expand...

I think it should be fine, but not if you have a middle seat!
 
I'd say it's too big, but that might be personal preference. You could probably squeeze a 17" onto the tray/table thing.
 
I think it is too big. Someone sitting next to me had one once.




HUGE!!!! Made me feel so claustrophobic.


That was the first and only time I will ever fly coach.
 
Trust me. I fly twice a week, every week, for my job. Once to the client site and once back home. A 14" screen is pushing it in coach. If you are flying United and you are in Economy Plus, you should be okay. But even with my macbook's 13" screen, if the person in front of me puts their seat down, it gets tough. If you want to watch movies on the plane, unless you're rollin' business class or 1st, good luck w/ the 17 incher. I'd say you'd still have a tough time with a 15, ESPECIALLY if the person puts the seat down in front of you.
 
I think the OP's physical size is a factor that no one has considered either. I think a 15" is pushing it in coach.

Ed
 
I brought my 15" macbook pro on coach, and I couldn't open the lid all the way with it sitting on the tray; so it was as if I was looking down on the screen. I had to put it on my lap to view the screen correctly. I highly doubt the 17" will even fit on the tray, but maybe on your lap. It gets kind of hot though...
 
I've brought my 17" PB all over the world with me in coach, business and fist class. It's a little like the story of the 3 pigs. The coach may be tight but it is doable. Not fun when the person in front of you wants to kick their seat back. The 15 and even the 12 have problems as well when people tilt back. Depending on the airline it should fit well on your lap.

I would never let whether or not it can fit in coach hold me back from buying another 17" - I will never buy something smaller. I need the real estate for my on-location projects though.
 
Ed H said:
I think the OP's physical size is a factor that no one has considered either. I think a 15" is pushing it in coach.

Ed
Click to expand...
Indeed. I personally find it a bit cramped to use my 12" PB in coach. In United's Economy Plus it's just about OK, but if the guy in front reclines, I find it a little cramped, but still usable. A 17" PB would be too big for me in coach.
 
aricher said:
I would never let whether or not it can fit in coach hold me back from buying another 17"
Click to expand...
For those who travel weekly, they cannot afford to make the same call as you. Screen real estate is far less important that actually being able to open the computer.
 
absolutely

I used to own a 15.2" Ti. Powerbook, it was always too big when I was on a plane. That's a lot of the reason I went with the Macbook this time, smaller!
 
all i have to say is..EW COACH? lol j/k BUT I must say 17" is pretty big and if u don't mind your neighbor glancing over at what you do then i guess it's okay. i think a 15" would be a good size for coach.
 
Sadly coach is a the only way I can travel, even for business, unless I'm lucky enough to get an upgrade. One of the perils of working with federal funding is that I'm not allowed to travel business class.
 
Foggy said:
17 is fine imo - just dont expect to go watching pr0n!
Click to expand...

What planes are you flying on?

I'm a fairly small person, and I can barely cope with a 15" notebook in coach/economy class. :( It's difficult to move around a lot to pull the notebook out of the bag/put it back in and a bunch of other stuff. Which is why I bought the 12" PB.
 
OK... Ordered my MBP! Now need a bag

OK, I just ordered a refurb MBP from Apple and now I will be needing a bag.

For travel on an airplane, I will just use my wife's new Macbook! Yeah, we went crazy, sold the PC laptops and went Mac!
 
I have rolled around the world a few times with my 15 incher.. no problem,.. it can be tight.. but never has been uncomfortable.

cheers

I would go with 17 inches..

: )
 
i have a 17" pb so i know how it goes, and altho movies in the wider screen on planes is really great, a 15" would be so much easier. you kinda gotta squish your arms in there, its awkward. i was thinking about getting an old pismo for the plane rides
 
but lemme just make it clear the experience on the plane with the 17" werent the best but id never trade it, go with the 17
 
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